Little bits of mine, whether it be crafty, frugal, cooking, garden or just life-related. There's something for everyone! Let me know you were here, and leave a little love! (Everyone needs a pat now and then...) THANK YOU for stopping by.

I usually completely decorate my door for Halloween... I intended to "mummy up" my door with these great big google-y eyes I got from Michael's (saw something similar on Pinterest...), and just didn't get around to it. So... I was doing something else and Jenny (@ Crazy About Cricut) happened to post openings for a blog hop. I love Halloween... and thought I needed THIS to kick my mojo back in gear. And make a banner for my front door, I did! Whoop, whoop!

Before you look any further... Let me apologize for the bad, BAD photos. I took them with my phone. I know... not a great excuse. I could've done better, but I was already frustrated from not being able to find my regular camera (um... I "hid" it so a kid wouldn't mess up my favorite settings again... and can't seem to remember where my hiding spot is. Hopefully... it'll turn up soon...)

Moving on...

The little ghosts are cut from Paper Doll Dress Up (Cricut, of course!). They were slightly distressed with Black Soot (Tim Holtz), glittered eyes with fairy dust and Stickles.

The letters B-O-O are from Blackletter (Cricut). The "blackout" is done in white and the actual letters in a cute black candy-ish print (got it from a swap... all these items were from my stash!), all done at 5.76" height. Fairy dust glitter is again used in the white openings.

I did add another ghost down at the bottom... Couldn't leave the first one alone (he might've been scared!)...

This wonderful roll of burlap-type orange-y and green-y distressed stuff cost a whole $.40 at Michael's on clearance some time ago. I finally quite hoarding it and put it to a good use! Hahaha!

If you notice all the cuts are slightly raised, I used silicone gel. The stuff from Home Depot. Love it!

Now... Jenny only asked for ONE project, but when I saw what one of the blog candy prizes was... I couldn't resist making this cute little card:

He's one of the pumpkin cards from Mini Monsters. I absolutely love this cartridge. It's so versatile... Plus, It's the closest thing I have to any of the Halloween-y carts. I use it all. the. time.

I gave him some google-y eyes (different sizes to add to his quirkiness) and Black Diamond Stickle-d his zig-zag mouth (I didn't want to follow the original mouth line...). His leaf is done in green, then distressed in Tea Dye (Tim Holtz). His cute edges of his polka dot face are distressed (can you tell I absolutely LOVE Tim Holtz Distress Inks?) with Peeled Paint.

Then, you open him up... and BOO! (in Christmas Red Stickles...) a Mini Monsters ghost jumps out at you, floating on an ACTION WOBBLE!!!! He's a little glittered and glammed from the pumpkin mess within, but he's all mine. Gotta love him.

I tried to post the video of him wobbling, but... I'm not that tech-y. Bummer.

At this posting, I am the end of the line... But, if you'd like to hop around and look some more, here is the lineup. Remember... I'm already the end of it...

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Today (Friday), I turned 43. The day is almost gone, but I've started a whole bunch of new beginnings.

I went to work at the high school and enjoyed my last day as a substitute with my afternoon teacher. His regular aide will return on Monday, after a leave of absence, and I've grown and met so many people, thanks to this opportunity. Don't fret... I still have my day job. I will miss the kids and the teacher. I hope I made them all feel as confident and loved as they made me feel. And I'll REALLY miss English. I'll only have math left... Ugh.

Since I had broken my toe last week, I noticed the coloring had finally subdued itself. It definitely was a lighter shade of purple... But the "fracture blister" is still there. (Avoid the pic if you don't want to see!)

Blech! And yes... Don't hate on the Flinstones toes!

I got my kid to get close to a lobster

And I got my hubs to finally update our stove/oven/range:

Isn't she a beaut? Btw... Three years ago, I got him to finally update our washer/dryer. He called it my birthday gift. Household... Ya know? He "gets it" now. He informed me the range isn't my birthday gift! Yay! Old dogs CAN learn new tricks!

I signed up for something I'm thrilled to try and launch into a new adventure (I'll share more later...)

And I'm doing my first whole blog post from my phone! Um... It's sure to be less wordy, as my fingers are rapidly tiring. It's much easier on a computer keyboard.

I sure hope all of your birthdays can be as good as mine was. Love, family, friends, food, and new beginnings make every year different and life-changing. Change IS good...

What I'm Recording:

The seasons all run into one another any more (so I've listed all of them but may have forgotten a few), but I still love me some TeeVee! And with the price of gas... we're really staying home! This is what recording on my DVR...(note: not in any particular order... it's eclectic/hodge podge. just like me!)

There are other "educational things" I watch, as well, but I DVR those as they are showing... Not to mention kiddie shows...

Too many to watch, and too many to catch up on!!! Some are still coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Did I tell you I'm an addict? To keep up with TV scoop, I follow @MichaelAusiello on Twitter... and I "like" him on Facebook, too!)

Food Corner

Cut down on SALT! My hubs was recently diagnosed with extremely high blood pressure, so we've gone cold turkey down on salt.

I just bought some great ZERO sodium seasoning mixes:

Weber Salt Free Steak Seasoning - $4.96 (Sam's Club) Really great flavor. Lots of garlic with tones of citrus. Had it on Pork Chops, too. Oh yum! Don't believe you can only eat it on steak...

Johnny's Organic Seasoned Pepper - $2.95 (Sprouts) OMG! Where have you been all my life?!? No citrus, so I've been using it in everything I don't want citrus in... spaghetti sauce, chicken and dumplings (yes... I made extremely low sodium chicken and dumplings!), anything... ANYTHING!

Trader Joe's Spices of the World 21 Seasoning Salute - $3.25 (Trader Joes's) Pretty good. Lots of citrus. Has other veggie flavors the other two don't have.